Man locked up for assault outside Newbury pub

Attack left victim with a shattered jaw

A NEWBURY man who left a 23-year-old with a broken jaw after assaulting him outside a town centre pub has been sent into custody for a year.

Twenty-year-old Ben Thompson, of Hawthorn Road, assaulted his victim in Market Place outside the Slug and Lettuce in the early hours of Sunday January 15 last year.

The victim's injuries were so bad he had to undergo surgery.

Thompson, who kicked and punched the man before running off, was also ordered to pay a fine of £140 at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday.

At a previous court hearing Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of grievous bodily harm.

Investigating officer, Det Sgt Gareth Perry of Force CID based at Newbury police station, said: “Such violence will not be tolerated in Newbury and our thorough investigation into this offence demonstrates that offenders will be caught and dealt with through the courts.”

For an exclusive and full report from the Crown court sentencing hearing, see next week's Newbury Weekly News

And yet again no picture of the perpetrator, that's three out three that I can recently recall. If as NWN suggest this because TVP have deliberately not released the "mug shot" then the question is why not and on who's instruction?

David, in my opinion it is widely acknowledged that publicity can link offenders to other crimes and prevent more from being committed The Police seem more reluctant to release mug shots even though guidelines suggest they should where the person found guilty is jailed. There were two recently convicted Newbury men convicted of sexually related crimes that had no mug shots. Perhaps they committed other crimes that are now hidden that may have come to light if they were identified and recognised for other crimes?Perhaps people with the same name are mistakenly trolled? Perhaps you would like to know that the person next door to you or your or female relative are neighbours? Perhaps it is a disincentive to commit crime if your photo is all over the local papers?